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Reed staves off Spieth challenge to win Masters

Patrick Reed staved off Jordan Spieth's bid to rewrite the US Masters history books in recording the greatest 54-hole comeback in Augusta National history, scrambling to win his first green jacket on Monday (AEST).

Former Masters hero Spieth threatened to write a Masters script for the ages, tying Reed for the lead late in the final round after starting the day nine shots behind the 27-year-old American.

But Spieth, a two-time Australian Open winner, dropped a shot on his final hole and Reed showed no nerves of a man on the brink of his first major to cling to a one-shot win over the fast-finishing Rickie Fowler, with fellow Texan Spieth a stroke further back in third.

Spieth flirted with breaking Augusta's long standing course record (63) as he logged nine birdies through the first 16 holes, but finished with an electrifying eight-under 64, as Fowler broke out of a first nine funk to post four birdies on the back nine, including a clutch putt on the last.

But Reed (-15) made two pressure cooker putts from an awkward position above the hole on the 18th to secure his first major, with a one-under 71 final round.